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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Marion decide to do about the Von Struikers’ land claim?

2. What does Marion remove from Hortensia’s wall?

3. What did Marion witness happen to Alberta?

4. What hides the stain on Hortensia’s bedroom wall?

5. How does Marion feel about Alberta’s story in retrospect?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Marion feel to be staying in No. 10 Katterijn Avenue?

2. What is the arrangement when Marion moves into Hortensia’s house?

3. Why does Marion struggle to admit her feelings to Ludmilla?

4. Why might Aggie have said “There’s blood here, Marion” (169)?

5. How does Hortensia’s confession about Peter’s illegitimate child bring the women closer together?

6. How does architecture tie into Marion’s racism?

7. What motivates Hortensia to contact Esme?

8. How does Peter feel about Hortensia’s career?

9. How does Chapter Sixteen show Hortensia develop?

10. What does Marion removing the stain from Hortensia’s wall symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What factors shape Hortensia’s very negative and mean attitude? What elements from her past? What elements from her present?

Essay Topic 2

How do the flashback scenes serve the overall narrative of the novel? What information do we learn from these scenes?

Essay Topic 3

How does the novel explain the development of Marion’s racism? What specific scenes from her childhood cause her to develop in the manner that she does?

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